Excellence in Customer Service
How do you execute excellence in customer service? It is all about methodology and consistency.
- Have a good game plan in place. Starting off with a good game plan is an excellent way to ensure you deliver consistent customer service to your clients, because it helps keep you focused on the task at hand.
- Always put customer's needs first. Regardless of any situation, make sure you put your customer's needs first. As you do that, you will get to know your customers better and will stand a better chance to develop strong trust in them toward you and your company.
- Predict future customer's needs. As you develop relationships with your customers, you will find that you will be able to predict their future needs. In doing so, you will demonstrate that you really care about them and their true needs, and will enable them to develop strong confidence in you.
- Partner with customer to accomplish their goals. Position yourself as an advisor to your customer. In partnering with them to solve their problems and accomplish their goals, they will be more open to expanding their business with yours.
- Develop a strong follow-through plan. Customers like to know what's coming next. Put together a strong follow-through plan and share it with them so they are aware of what you plan to do to help them grow their business. This also helps ward off surprises, which will inadvertently put your customers on the defensive.
- Keep good notes on customers—remember key points about them. Keep a tickler file that enables you to remember specifics about your customers. The more you remember, the better off you'll be as you continue to work with them.
- Solve their problems as quickly and frequently as possible. In developing strong business relationships, you will find that you are more adequately prepared to help solve their problems quickly, as you will likely be able to predict the problems either just before or as they are occurring.
- Look for opportunities to do continual business with customers. Work with your customers to ensure you are providing them with all the possible products and services they need. Keep them informed of upcoming product releases, and make sure your products are actually meeting a key need that their business may have.
Overall, excellence in customer service boils down to developing consistency in your approach. Consistency in business relationships usually promotes positive results for both parties over the long run.
Information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. This does not represent a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Please consult your financial advisor.